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Free Prostate Screenings Offered During Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
AURORA, Colo. (August 25, 2004) — When it is caught early, prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent curable. Regular screenings are the key to detecting prostate cancer in its earliest stages. In recognition of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, the University of Colorado Cancer Center is offering free prostate cancer screenings Sept. 19-22 at the Anschutz Cancer Pavilion in Aurora.
The Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC), a national organization created to improve the detection and treatment of prostate cancer, recommends that all men 40 and older be screened annually. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer due to a family history of the disease or racial background, such as African-American or Hispanic, should begin annual screenings when they are 35.
"Research shows that deaths from prostate cancer nationwide have decreased due to prostate screenings and better treatments," said Dr. E. David Crawford, professor of urologic oncology at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center and chairman of the PCEC.
Last year during Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, UCCC screened more than 1,400 men, making it the largest free prostate cancer screening site in the Rocky Mountain region. The screenings last approximately 15 minutes and include a digital rectal examination (DRE) and a blood test to measure prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. PSA is a protein that is secreted by the prostate, and elevated levels may indicate that prostate cancer is present.
Although recent research has shown that an elevated PSA may be less of a concern for some men than doctors originally thought, Crawford explained that it is important for men to participate in annual screenings to monitor any changes in their PSA levels.
"Through regular screenings, we can determine the baseline for different individuals," he said. "When we find elevated PSA levels or changes in PSA levels, additional testing is done to give the patient the information he needs to work with his physician to determine what, if any, further action is needed."
No appointment is needed for the screenings. Screenings will be offered Monday, Sept. 19 through Thursday, Sept. 22, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Anschutz Cancer Pavilion located at 1665 North Ursula in Aurora, Colo. Call 720-848-0204 for more information.
The University of Colorado Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Rocky Mountain Region. Headquartered primarily at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, its four-part mission is excellence in cancer research, treatment, prevention and education. For more information, visit the Web site at www.uccc.info.